JPH10224820A - Compound-eye camera apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To photograph both horizontally and vertically by moving plural image pickup elements for displaying and recording a stereoscopic video to one of a position where the longitudinal direction of its photodetective face is placed horizontally and a position where the longitudinal direction is placed vertically. SOLUTION: Camera heads 3a and 3b hold respectively photographing lenses 1a and 1b and image pickup elements 2a and 2b converting an optical image formed by them to an electric video signal. From the video signal outputted from the elements 2a and 2b, a stereo video signal with parallax is constituted to output to a liquid crystal panel with a lenticular lens to generate a stereoscopic video. The elements 2a and 2b are constituted to be turmable in the direction of arrows C and D or the opposite direction with the optical axes of the lenses 1a and 1b. At the time of changing from horizontal photographing to vertical photographing, the elements are turned by 90 deg. from a position where a horizontal viewing angle is larger to a position where a vertical viewing angle is larger.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a compound-eye camera device capable of capturing and displaying a stereoscopic image.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For capturing and displaying a stereoscopic three-dimensional image, a system which has been considered so far includes, for example, a stereoscopic television apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 62-21396. In such a stereoscopic video shooting and display system, basically, a set of videos waiting for parallax is obtained from a plurality of cameras, and this is provided to a viewer by a stereoscopic video display device dedicated to the system. is there.

[0003]

However, in conventional stereoscopic video systems, it is assumed that video is reproduced on a television monitor. I could only shoot. In addition, when such a compound-eye camera is forcibly rotated and rotated by 90 degrees so that the longitudinal direction of the shooting screen is the vertical direction, so-called vertical shooting, the direction of parallax is also a vertical direction, and a stereoscopic image is obtained. Couldn't play as well.

[0004] In view of the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, an object of the present invention is to provide a compound eye camera apparatus capable of performing horizontal shooting and vertical shooting.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A compound eye camera apparatus according to the present invention comprises a plurality of optical systems for converging subject light to form an optical image on an image forming surface, and a plurality of optical systems each having an image forming surface. In a compound-eye camera device having a plurality of image sensors, which are arranged photoelectric conversion elements, an image display unit capable of displaying a stereoscopic image, and a recording unit capable of recording a stereoscopic image, a plurality of image sensors are imaged. There is imaging moving means for moving to a first position where the longitudinal direction of the light receiving surface of the element substantially coincides with the horizontal direction, and to a second position where the longitudinal direction of the light receiving surface of the image sensor substantially coincides with the vertical direction.

Accordingly, it is possible to provide a compound-eye camera device capable of performing horizontal shooting and vertical shooting.

The image display device further comprises a display direction changing means for changing a display direction of the image display means, wherein the display direction changing means changes the display direction of the image display means by the image sensor when the image sensor is at the first position. When the image sensor is at the second position so that the longitudinal direction of the obtained image matches the horizontal direction, the display direction of the image display means matches the vertical direction of the image obtained by the image sensor with the vertical direction. To change the display direction.

Accordingly, it is possible to provide a compound-eye camera device having a reproducing means capable of reproducing the reproducing means vertically and horizontally in accordance with vertical and horizontal shooting.

A third position in which the longitudinal direction of the display surface of the image display means substantially coincides with the horizontal direction, and a fourth position in which the longitudinal direction of the display surface of the image display means substantially coincides with the vertical direction, Display rotation means for rotatably holding; and image rotation means for rotating the image sensor about an axis substantially parallel to the optical axis of the optical system. When the image display means is in the fourth position, the image capturing direction of the image sensor is adjusted so that the longitudinal direction of the image obtained by the image sensor matches the horizontal direction. The direction may be rotated so that the longitudinal direction of the image obtained by the image sensor matches the vertical direction.

Therefore, since the image pickup device and the display means are rotated as described above, it is not necessary to change the direction and display method of the image displayed on the display means between the vertical shooting and the horizontal shooting. Since the electric circuit is not required, the circuit configuration is simplified. That is, it is possible to provide a compound-eye camera device capable of always maximizing the use of the display range of the display device when performing vertical and horizontal reproduction of the reproducing device in the compound-eye camera device having the reproducing device.

The imaging rotation means may rotate the imaging device about the optical axis of the optical system.

Accordingly, it is possible to provide a compound-eye camera device in which the base line length does not change by switching between vertical and horizontal photography.

[0013] The imaging rotation means may rotate the plurality of imaging elements in the same direction around the optical axis of the optical system.

Accordingly, it is possible to provide a compound-eye camera device which does not require changing the display direction of the display means by switching between vertical and horizontal shooting.

[0015] The apparatus may further include image display means capable of displaying a panoramic image.

Therefore, in a compound-eye camera device having a panoramic shooting mode in which a plurality of images obtained by the compound-eye camera device are combined to obtain one video signal, not only a stereoscopic image but also a panoramic image having a wide horizontal angle of view or 2 By combining two video signals, a high-quality video with a large number of pixels can be obtained.

The image display means capable of displaying a panoramic image may use a rear barrier wrench type display.

Therefore, by using such a display, an image shot in the panorama shooting mode can be displayed with higher definition.

[0019]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

(First Embodiment of the Present Invention) FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a compound-eye camera device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
In FIG. 1, reference numerals 1a and 1b denote photographing lenses each having a focus adjusting means and an aperture adjusting mechanism (not shown). 2a, 2b
Numerals denote imaging elements for converting an optical image formed by the photographing lens into an electric video signal. Reference numerals 3a and 3b denote the photographing lenses 1a and 1b and the imaging devices 2a and 2b, respectively.
Is rotatably supported with respect to the compound-eye camera body 10 by a camera head that holds

FIG. 2 is a schematic front view of the compound-eye camera device of the present embodiment, showing how the camera heads 3a and 3b, the photographing lenses 1a and 1b, and the image pickup devices 2a and 2b are rotated. . As can be seen from the figure, in the present embodiment, the camera heads 3a and 3b are rotatably supported in the horizontal direction indicated by arrows A and B with respect to the compound eye camera body 10, respectively. The camera head 3
a, the shooting lenses 1a, 1b supported by 3b,
The imaging elements 2a and 2b are rotatable about the optical axes of the photographing lenses 1a and 1b as indicated by arrows C and D or C 'and D'. The convergence angles of the camera heads 3a and 3b can be changed by horizontally rotating the camera heads 3a and 3b in different directions by convergence angle changing means described later. Further, the photographing lenses 1a, 1b, the image pickup devices 2a, 2
By rotating b around the optical axes of the photographing lenses 1a and 1b, the photographing state becomes larger in the horizontal angle of view.
The state shown in FIG. 2B can be changed from the state shown in FIG. 2A to the state shown in FIG.

Returning to FIG. 1, reference numeral 4 denotes the image pickup devices 2a, 2
This is a signal synthesizing means for generating a two-dimensional video signal or a stereo video signal from the video signal obtained in b. Reference numeral 5a denotes a vertical / horizontal detecting means for detecting whether the photographing lenses 1a and 1b and the imaging devices 2a and 2b are in the state shown in FIG. 2A or 2B. Reference numeral 5b denotes a convergence angle detecting means for detecting a horizontal rotation position of the camera heads 3a and 3b. Reference numeral 6 denotes display means for displaying the video signal obtained by the signal synthesizing means 4.

FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view of the display means 6.
In the figure, reference numeral 301 denotes a liquid crystal panel having a large number of display pixels. Reference numeral 302 denotes a so-called lenticular lens having a semi-cylindrical lens group disposed on the front surface of the liquid crystal panel 301. Reference numeral 303 denotes a backlight disposed on the back of the liquid crystal panel 301. Since the display means 6 has such a configuration, as shown in FIG. 4A, the images 41 and 42 having a predetermined parallax are synthesized into an image 45 arranged alternately according to the pitch of the lenticular lens. By displaying the image on the liquid crystal panel 31, a stereoscopic image can be displayed. A stereoscopic image display device using such a lenticular lens is disclosed in
Since it is publicly known as disclosed in 5943 and the like,
Detailed description is omitted.

Returning to FIG. 1, reference numeral 7 denotes recording means for recording the video signal obtained by the signal synthesizing means 4. Reference numeral 8 denotes a system controller that controls the compound-eye camera.
Reference numeral 9 denotes a release button which, when operated, emits a signal for starting recording of a video signal. Reference numeral 10 denotes a convergence angle driving unit that drives the camera heads 3a and 3b in the horizontal direction. Reference numeral 11 denotes the photographing lenses 1a and 1b,
Vertical and horizontal photographing change means for rotating a and b around the optical axes of the photographing lenses 1a and 1b.

Next, the operation will be described. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an operation flow of the compound eye camera shown in FIG. Unless otherwise specified, all operations are performed by the system controller 8. In the figure, first, when a power switch of a compound-eye camera (not shown) is turned on (S10).
0), focus adjustment and aperture adjustment are performed on the subject (S101). Next, a photographing mode is selected (S10).
2) If the stereoscopic shooting mode is selected, the process proceeds to S103, and if the panoramic shooting mode is selected, S1.
Move to 20. First, the case where the stereoscopic imaging mode is selected will be described. In S103, the convergence angle of the camera heads 3a and 3b is detected by the convergence angle detection means 5b. When the convergence angle of the camera heads 3a and 3b is out of the predetermined range, the camera heads 3a and 3b are driven by the
The convergence angles of a and 3b fall within a predetermined range (S
104). Next, the vertical / horizontal detecting means 5a detects whether the photographing lenses 1a, 1b and the image pickup devices 2a, 2b are in a horizontal photographing state or a vertical photographing state (S105). Then, the signal synthesizing means 4 performs an image synthesizing process in accordance with each photographing state (S106).

FIGS. 4 (a) and 4 (b) are views showing the state of image synthesis performed by the signal synthesizing means 4 in a horizontal shooting state and a vertical shooting state, respectively. In these figures, 4
Reference numerals 1, 42 and 43, 44 denote a set of video signals photographed in the horizontal photographing state and the vertical photographing state, respectively. Also 4
5 and 46 are the video signals 41, 42 and 4 respectively.
Reference numerals 3 and 44 denote video signals after the synthesizing process is performed by the signal synthesizing means 4. Reference numeral 47 denotes an image display area of the display means 6. The video signals 41, 42 to 43, and 44 obtained by the image pickup devices 2a and 2b are combined into one video signal 45 to 4 in which left and right video signals are alternately arranged in a comb shape by the signal combining unit 4.
No. 6 is synthesized. Since the pitch of the comb teeth corresponds to the pitch of the lenticular lens 32 described above, when these video signals 45 and 46 are displayed on the display means 6, the user can view the subject three-dimensionally (S10).
7). When an operation unit (not shown) is operated to change the shooting state (S108), the vertical / horizontal shooting changing unit 11 causes the shooting lenses 1a and 1b and the imaging devices 2a and 2b to change.
Are rotated clockwise by 90 degrees (S109).
In the present embodiment, the photographing lenses 1a and 1b and the image sensor 2
The reason why a and b are rotated in the same direction is to make the directions such as the vertical relationship of the images of the image signals obtained by the respective image sensors 2a and 2b the same. Next, when the operation of the release button 8 is detected (S110), the video signal synthesized by the signal synthesizing unit 4 is recorded in the recording unit 7 together with the shooting mode and information indicating that the horizontal or vertical shooting was performed ( S111). Thus, one photographing operation in the stereoscopic photographing mode is completed.

Next, the case where the panoramic photographing mode is selected will be described. In S120, the convergence angle of the camera heads 3a and 3b is detected by the convergence angle detection means 5b.
When the convergence angle of the camera heads 3a and 3b is out of the predetermined range, the camera heads 3a and 3b are driven by the
The convergence angles of a and 3b fall within a predetermined range (S
121). FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the state of the camera heads 3a and 3b at this time. In the figure, E and F indicate the photographing areas of the photographing lenses 1a and 1b, respectively.
G and H indicate the viewpoints of the photographing lenses 1a and 1b, respectively. In the state of FIG.
Since the viewpoint of b is close, the respective images obtained by the imaging elements 2a and 2b are 1 if the subject distance is longer than a predetermined distance.
It can be regarded as a video taken from one viewpoint, and the overlapping portions of the respective shooting regions coincide with each other with almost no difference due to the difference in the viewpoint of the video.

Returning to FIG. 5, the vertical / horizontal detecting means 5a
The photographing lenses 1a and 1b and the imaging devices 2a and 2b
Is detected in a horizontal shooting state or a vertical shooting state (S122).
Then, the signal synthesizing means 4 performs a synthesizing process as shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B according to the vertical and horizontal shooting states (S12).
3).

FIGS. 7A and 7B are views showing the state of the combining process by the signal combining means 4 in the horizontal shooting state and the vertical shooting state, respectively. In the figure, reference numerals 71, 72 and 73, 74 denote a set of video signals photographed in a horizontal photographing state and a vertical photographing state, respectively. Reference numerals 75 and 76 denote video signals after the video signals 71, 72 and 73 and 74 have been subjected to the synthesizing process by the signal synthesizing means 4, respectively. Also, 71 'and 7 indicated by hatching
2 ′ and 73 ′, 74 ′ are video signals 71, 7 respectively.
2 shows an overlapping area of 73 and 74. As can be seen from these figures, the video signals 71, 72 and 73, 74 obtained by the image pickup devices 2a, 2b are superimposed by the signal synthesizing means 4 so that the overlapping portions of the left and right video signals coincide with each other. That is, two two-dimensional images 75 and 76 are generated by deleting 72 'and 74'. Then, the obtained video signal is displayed by the display means 6, and the user can visually recognize the subject (S12).
4).

When operating means (not shown) is operated to change the photographing state (S125), the vertical / horizontal changing means causes the photographing lens 1 to be turned on when the current state is the horizontal photographing state.
a, 1b and the imaging devices 2a, 2b
It is rotated by 0 degrees, and if it is in a vertical shooting state, the shooting lens 1
a, 1b and the image pickup devices 2a, 2b are respectively rotated 90 degrees counterclockwise (S126). Next, the imaging devices 2a, 2
After the convergence angle is changed by the convergence angle changing means 10 so that the overlapping portion of the photographing region b becomes a predetermined amount (S127), S
Returning to step 122, the following operation is repeated. If no operation is performed in S125, the operation proceeds to S110, and if the operation of the release button 8 is detected, the video signal synthesized by the signal synthesizing unit 5 is displayed together with the shooting mode and information indicating that horizontal or vertical shooting was performed. Recorded in the recording means (S1
11). Thus, one photographing operation in the panoramic photographing mode ends.

As described above, the present embodiment has a panoramic photographing mode in which a plurality of images obtained by the compound-eye camera device are combined to obtain one video signal. There is an effect that a high-quality image with a large number of pixels can be obtained by combining a wide panoramic image or two image signals.

(Second Embodiment of the Present Invention) Note that the display means according to the first embodiment of the present invention has a horizontal resolution of one half when displaying a normal two-dimensional video. There were drawbacks. Therefore, as a method for solving such a drawback, a display of a rear barrier wrench type disclosed by the present applicant in the patent applications of Japanese Patent Application Nos. 8-148611 and 8-148612 may be used. FIG.
(A) shows a display principle diagram of a rear barrier wrench type display according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The rear barrier wrench type display uses a backlight 80
1, checkered mask 802, lenticular lens array a 803, lenticular lens array b 804,
PDLC (polymer dispersed liquid crystal) 805, LCD 8 for display
06. First, light is emitted from a backlight 801 and passes through a checkered mask 802. This is to separate the left and right images from the display into irradiation light to be displayed with directivity. The separated irradiation light enters the lenticular lens array a 803 and the lenticular lens array b 804. Lenticular lens array a
803 has lenticular lenses arranged vertically,
When the light separated by the checkerboard mask 802 enters here, the light separated for the right image display is left to the display, that is, toward the left eye 807 of the observer, and the light separated for the left image display is the display. To the right, that is, toward the left eye 808 of the observer. Similarly, the lenticular lens array b 804 has lenticular lenses arranged side by side. While the lenticular lens array a 803 separates the image in the left-right direction, the lenticular lens array b 804 plays a role of expanding the viewing area in the up-down direction. In this manner, the light is separated into light having directivity. On the other hand, the left pixel 810 and the right pixel 809 are arranged on the display LCD 806 every other line in the vertical scanning direction by the stereoscopic image display control unit. Here, the lenticular lens array a80
3. When the light transmitted through the lenticular lens array b 804 passes through the PDLC 805 and is irradiated, the right pixel 809 of the pixels arranged in a stripe shape is toward the right of the viewing zone with respect to the viewer, and the left pixel 810 is Displayed to the left of the viewing zone for the observer, the observer can observe a stereoscopic image.

Next, the operation principle of the PDLC 805 will be described. As shown in FIG. 8B, the PDLC 805 has a special polymer 812 including liquid crystal molecules 811 between the electrodes 813, and the outside thereof is sandwiched by the base material 814. Here, when a voltage is applied between the electrodes, the liquid crystal molecules 811 in the special polymer are in a transmission state. Therefore, since the light having directivity to the left and right passing through the lenticular lens array a 803 and the lenticular lens array b 804 is transmitted as it is, the image on the display LCD 806 is separated to the left and right, so that the observer can view stereoscopically. Images can be observed. On the other hand, when no voltage is applied, the liquid crystal molecules 811 in the special polymer are in a scattering state. Therefore, the light having directivity to the left and right passing through the lenticule lens array a 803 and the lenticule lens array b04 loses its directivity, and the image on the display LCD 806 is displayed as a two-dimensional image. By using such a display, there is a merit that a video taken in the panoramic shooting mode can be displayed with higher definition. Other methods that allow stereoscopic viewing include a method using a parallax barrier instead of a lenticular lens, and a shutter synchronized with the left-eye image and the right-eye image alternately displayed in a time-division manner. Some viewers wear functional glasses so that the left-eye image can be seen only by the left eye and the right-eye image can be seen only by the right eye, enabling stereoscopic viewing. May be used as display means, but a detailed description is omitted because it is already known.

(Third Embodiment of the Present Invention) Switching between vertical and horizontal shooting may be performed as follows. FIG. 9 is a schematic front view of a compound-eye camera device according to the third embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 9, reference numeral 20 denotes a main body of the compound-eye camera device. 23a and 23b are photographing lenses 21a and 21b,
This is a camera head on which the image pickup devices 22a and 22b are mounted. 24a and 24b are photographing lenses 21a and 21 respectively.
b and the camera heads 23a and 23b
Are rotatably fixed to the main body 20, respectively. FIG. 9A shows a state during horizontal shooting.
(B) shows a state during vertical shooting. Switching between vertical and horizontal shooting is performed by operating an operation means (not shown). Also, in the present embodiment, unlike the first embodiment, since the respective image sensors 22a and 22b are rotated in the opposite directions due to the configuration, images are formed on the image sensors 22a and 22b at the time of vertical shooting. Since the relationship between the top and bottom of the image and the reading direction of the image sensors 22a and 22b is opposite to each other, it is necessary to perform correction such as reversing the reading direction of one of the image sensors.

Since the present embodiment is configured as described above, there is an effect that the mechanism for rotating the image sensor by 90 degrees is simplified.

(Fourth Embodiment of the Present Invention) FIG. 10 is a block diagram of a compound-eye camera device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, reference numeral 30 denotes a compound eye camera body. Reference numerals 31a and 31b denote photographing lenses each having a focus adjustment unit and an aperture adjustment mechanism (not shown). 32a, 32b
Is an image pickup device that converts an optical image formed by each of the photographing lenses 31a and 31b into an electric video signal.
a and 31b are rotatably supported with respect to the optical axis.
33a and 33b are the taking lenses 31a and 31 respectively.
b, the imaging devices 32a and 32b
31b is a camera head that supports the optical axes of the respective lenses 31b so as to be substantially parallel. Reference numeral 36 denotes display means for displaying the video signal obtained by the signal synthesizing means 34. The display means 36 displays the left-eye video and the right-eye video alternately in a time-division manner, and views the glasses with a shutter function in synchronization with the display. When a person wears the image, the image for the left eye can be seen only by the left eye, and the image for the right eye can be seen only by the right eye, so that stereoscopic vision can be performed.

FIGS. 11A and 11B are schematic front views of a compound-eye camera device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. As can be seen from the figure, the display means 36 is rotatably fixed to the compound-eye camera main body 30, and the image pickup devices 32a and 32b move the display means 36 by about 90 degrees in the direction of arrow C or C '. When rotated by degrees, as shown in the figure, they rotate in the directions of arrows A, B or A ', B' around the optical axes of the photographing lenses 31a, 31b, respectively.

Returning to FIG. 10, reference numeral 31 denotes the image pickup device 32.
Vertical and horizontal photographing change means for rotating a and 32b about the optical axis of the photographing lenses 31a and 31b. Numeral 34 is a signal synthesizing means for generating a stereo video signal from the video signals obtained by the image sensors 32a and 32b. Reference numeral 35 denotes a vertical / horizontal photographing detecting unit for detecting whether the image pickup devices 32a and 32b are in a vertical or horizontal photographing state. 37 is a recording means for recording the video signal obtained by the signal synthesizing means 34. Reference numeral 38 denotes a system controller that controls the compound-eye camera. Reference numeral 39 denotes a release button which, when operated, emits a signal for starting recording of a video signal. 4
Numeral 0 is a display position detecting means for detecting the rotational position of the display means.

Next, the operation will be described. FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing an operation flow of the compound eye camera device shown in FIG. Unless otherwise specified, all operations are performed by the system controller 38. In the figure, first, when a power switch of a compound-eye camera (not shown) is turned on (S200), focus adjustment and aperture adjustment are performed on the subject (S201). In addition, the rotation position of the imaging devices 32a and 32b is detected by the vertical and horizontal detection means 35 (S2).
02), the rotation position of the display means 36 is detected by the display position detection means 41 (S203). Based on the information, the image pickup devices 32a and 32b are used as shown in FIG.
Or, it is determined whether the state of (b) has been reached (S
204), if the state is other than that shown in FIG. 11A or 11B, the image pickup devices 32a and 32b are rotated by the vertical / horizontal photographing detection means 35, and the state shown in FIG. 11A or FIG. (S210). FIG. 11 in S204
If the state is (a) or (b), S205
Proceed to. In S205, the video signal obtained by the image pickup devices 32a and 32b is converted into a predetermined video signal by the signal synthesizing means 34. Next, the respective video signals generated by the signal synthesizing means 34 are alternately displayed in time series on the display means 36 (S206). At this time, the user can view the displayed image as a stereoscopic image by wearing the liquid crystal shutter glasses as described above.

If the user wants to change the photographing state, the user can use the display means 36 as shown in FIGS. 11 (a) and 11 (b).
Is rotated in the direction of arrow C or C ′. Then, the display position detecting means 41 detects this (S207), and the image pickup devices 32a, 3
2b is rotated in the directions of A and B or A 'and B' around the optical axes of the photographing lenses 31a and 31b, respectively (S210), and the display means 36 and the camera head 33 are rotated.
The positional relationship between a and 33b is always the same as in FIGS. 11 (a) and 11 (b). If no operation is performed in step S207, the process proceeds to step S208. When the operation of the release button 38 is detected, the video signal generated by the signal synthesizing unit 34 is recorded together with information indicating that horizontal or vertical shooting has been performed. 37 (S209). This completes one shooting operation.

In this embodiment, since the image pickup device and the display means are rotated as described above, it is necessary to change the direction and the display method of the image displayed on the display means between the vertical shooting and the horizontal shooting. There is no need for an electric circuit for this purpose, so that the circuit configuration is simplified.

[0041]

As described above, according to the present invention, there are provided a plurality of optical systems for converging subject light to form an optical image on an image plane, and arranged on each image plane of the plurality of optical systems. In a compound-eye camera device having a plurality of imaging elements that are photoelectric conversion elements, video display means capable of displaying stereoscopic video, and recording means capable of recording stereoscopic video, the plurality of imaging elements are A first position where the longitudinal direction and the horizontal direction of the light receiving surface substantially coincide with each other, and a second position where the longitudinal direction and the vertical direction of the light receiving surface of the image sensor substantially coincide with each other, The compound-eye camera device also has the effect that it is possible to shoot in a so-called vertical position.

The image display device further includes a display direction changing means for changing a display direction of the image display means, wherein the display direction of the image display means is changed by the image sensor when the image sensor is at the first position. When the image sensor is at the second position so that the longitudinal direction of the obtained image matches the horizontal direction, the display direction of the image display means matches the vertical direction of the image obtained by the image sensor with the vertical direction. Since the display direction is changed as described above, there is an effect that even if so-called vertical shooting is performed, a display corresponding thereto can be performed.

A third position where the longitudinal direction of the display surface of the image display means substantially coincides with the horizontal direction, and a fourth position where the longitudinal direction of the display surface of the image display means substantially coincides with the vertical direction, Display rotation means for rotatably holding; and image rotation means for rotating the image sensor about an axis substantially parallel to the optical axis of the optical system. When the image display means is in the fourth position, the image capturing direction of the image sensor is adjusted so that the longitudinal direction of the image obtained by the image sensor matches the horizontal direction. By rotating the image so that the longitudinal direction of the image obtained by the image sensor matches the vertical direction, the following effects are obtained. 1) Since the image pickup device and the display means are rotated as described above, it is not necessary to change the direction and the display method of the image displayed on the display means between the vertical shooting and the horizontal shooting, and an electric circuit therefor. , The circuit configuration is simplified. 2) The display range of the display means can be effectively used even in vertical position shooting. 3) The switching state of vertical and horizontal shooting can be easily determined.

Further, the image pickup rotating means rotates the image pickup element about the optical axis of the optical system, so that the distance between the respective photographing lenses, that is, the so-called base line length does not change even when switching between vertical and horizontal photographing. effective.

Further, the image pickup rotating means rotates the plurality of image pickup devices in the same direction around the optical axis of the optical system, so that the image signals obtained by the respective image pickup devices have the same vertical relationship. In signal processing, there is an effect that it is not necessary to perform processing for aligning video signal directions.

In addition, since the image display means capable of displaying a panoramic image is provided, not only a stereoscopic image but also a panoramic image having a wide horizontal angle of view or a high-quality image having a large number of pixels can be obtained by synthesizing two image signals. There is an effect that it can be obtained.

The image display means capable of displaying a panoramic image uses a rear barrier wrench type display, which has the effect of displaying images taken in the panoramic image mode with higher definition.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a compound-eye camera device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic front view of the compound-eye camera device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view of a display unit of the compound eye camera device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of synthesizing a stereoscopic video by a signal synthesizing unit according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of the compound-eye camera device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a state of a camera head at the time of panoramic image capturing according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of synthesizing a panoramic video by a signal synthesizing unit according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory view of a display principle of a rear barrier wrench type display according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a schematic front view of a compound-eye camera device according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram of a compound eye camera device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a schematic front view of a compound-eye camera device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart of a compound-eye camera device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1a, 1b, 21a, 21b, 31a, 31b Photographing lens 2a, 2b, 22a, 22b, 32a, 32b Image sensor 3a, 3b, 23a, 23b, 33a, 33b Camera head 4, 34 Signal combining means 5a, 35 Vertical / horizontal detection Means 5b Convergence angle detecting means 6, 36 Display means 7, 37 Recording means 8, 38 System controller 9, 39 Release button 10 Convergence angle detecting means 11, 31, Vertical and horizontal shooting changing means 12, 20, 30 Camera body 40 Display position detecting means 41, 42, 43, 44, 71, 72, 73, 74
Video signal 45, 46, 75, 76 Composite video signal 47 Video display area 71 ', 72', 73 ', 74' Overlap area of video signal 301 Liquid crystal panel 302 Lenticular lens 303, 801 Backlight 802 Checkered mask 803 Lenticular lens Array a 804 Lenticular lens array b 805 PDLC 806 Display LCD 807 Right eye 808 Left eye 809 Right pixel 810 Left pixel 811 Liquid crystal molecule 812 Special polymer 813 Electrode 814 Base material E, F Shooting area G, H Viewpoint

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Hideki Morishima 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Inside Canon Inc.

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of optical systems for converging subject light to form an optical image on an image plane, and a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements arranged on the image plane of each of the plurality of optical systems. An image sensor, a video display device capable of displaying a stereoscopic image, and a recording device capable of recording a stereoscopic image, in a compound-eye camera device, wherein the plurality of image sensors are arranged in a longitudinal direction of a light receiving surface of the image sensor. A compound-eye camera device comprising: an image-capturing moving unit configured to move to a first position in which the horizontal direction substantially coincides with a second position in which the longitudinal direction of the light-receiving surface of the image sensor substantially coincides with the vertical direction. . 2. The compound-eye camera device according to claim 1, further comprising: a display direction changing unit that changes a display direction of the video display unit, wherein the display direction changing unit is configured such that the imaging element is in the first position. When the image sensor is at the second position, the display direction of the image display means is aligned with the horizontal direction of the image obtained by the image sensor. A compound eye camera apparatus, wherein a display direction of the means is changed so that a longitudinal direction of an image obtained by the imaging device coincides with a vertical direction. 3. The compound eye camera device according to claim 1, wherein a third position where a longitudinal direction and a horizontal direction of the display surface of the image display means substantially coincide with each other, and a display surface of the image display means. A display rotation unit rotatably holding a fourth position where the longitudinal direction and the vertical direction substantially coincide with each other, and rotating the image pickup device around an axis substantially parallel to the optical axis of the optical system. An imaging rotation unit, wherein when the image display unit is at the third position, the imaging direction of the imaging device is set such that the longitudinal direction of an image obtained by the imaging device is horizontal. When the image display means is at the fourth position so as to coincide with the direction, the imaging direction of the image sensor is rotated so that the longitudinal direction of the image obtained by the image sensor coincides with the vertical direction. A compound eye camera device characterized in that: 4. The compound-eye camera device according to claim 3, wherein the image-pickup rotation unit rotates the image-capturing element about an optical axis of the optical system. 5. The compound eye camera according to claim 4, wherein said image pickup rotating means turns said plurality of image pickup devices in the same direction around an optical axis of said optical system. Camera device. 6. The compound-eye camera device according to claim 1, further comprising an image display unit capable of displaying a panoramic image. 7. The compound-eye camera device according to claim 6, wherein the image display means capable of displaying the panoramic image uses a rear barrier wrench type display.